As the Qin right wing collapsed into blood and victory, the Kan Ki Army, stationed around Gyou, entered a period of tense silence. The Zhao forces within the city did not sortie. There was no sound of cavalry, no formations—only an eerie stillness. Most of Kan Ki's commanders relaxed slightly.
But not Ma Ron.
"This is too clean," he muttered beside the grinning Kan Ki. "They're not attacking. That means they're not desperate yet. Or something's coming."
Kan Ki gave him a sideways glance. "Let me guess—you think we're the bait again?"
Ma Ron's face twitched. "I think our survival depends on whether Yo Tan Wa or Ou Sen wins. If either army falls, we're screwed. And if they win, we live because we get food."
Kan Ki let out a sharp laugh, flipping a knife between his fingers. "Then if we starve, we lift the siege. I'm not dying over some noble's plan."
Ma Ron bowed slightly, then added in a lower tone, "The Quoh Clan's been skimming rations. Zen Ou's boys are threatening open pillaging if their share drops again."
Kan Ki didn't even blink. "Let the Saki handle the Quoh. And as for Zen Ou…"
He tilted his head toward a nearby runner. "Send word to those bastards. If they start stealing from civilians, they'll get the whole Kan Ki Army on their necks. I don't care how wild they are."
He leaned back with a sardonic smirk. "Tell them Ou Sen's just takin' his sweet-ass time. Maybe we'll even survive."
Inside Gyou, strange tensions simmered among the citizens. Some whispered that new faces had appeared in the crowd—speaking oddly, asking too many questions.
They were right.
Two weeks prior, Ou Sen's infiltrators had slipped into the city with forged papers and stolen clothes. Now, on this very night, they struck in coordinated silence—setting fire to every major granary in Gyou.
Though all the infiltrators were slain after their mission, the damage was irreversible.
Outside the walls, Kan Ki sat atop a crate, licking a bloodstained blade. As smoke rose in the distance, he chuckled. "Ah… so that's what you've been up to, you crazy bastard."
Inside Gyou's city hall, panic spread like wildfire. The administrator barked at his men, "Cover this up immediately! Take inventory of the reserves. No one must know the main granaries are gone!"
But rumors were already spreading.
As days passed, Gyou spiraled into chaos. Kan Ki's men, from Ryu Dou to Koku Ou, shouted declarations of goodwill—"The Kan Ki Army will not harm you!"—while refugees flooded the outer sectors. Ogiko snored under a half-collapsed canopy, unfazed.
Kan Ki simply smirked.
Then came the messengers. One carried news that Ri Boku's army was closing in, the other that Ou Sen's army was approaching from behind.
Ri Boku reached the city first and clashed with Rai Dou's forces. But soon after, Ou Sen arrived with the full might of the central army.
Then, the impossible happened.
The gates of Gyou opened—not by surrender, but by rebellion. Starving refugees inside had risen up, opening the doors from within. The Zen Ou Clan surged in like wolves, tearing through what little resistance remained.
Ri Boku, seeing the fall of Gyou and his fate closing in, began retreating. But before he could escape far, a royal carriage from Kantan arrived—not with reinforcements, but with orders for his arrest.
Inside Gyou, the city was taken.
But celebration quickly faded when Qin forces realized the horrifying truth—there was no food.
Not even for the soldiers.
On the verge of collapse, rumors spread of supplies en route from Qi.
Elsewhere, a separate drama unfolded.
Kai Oku led a daring supply effort to reach Gyou, only to be ambushed by Shun Sui Ju, who had reclaimed Retsubi. Kai Oku offered bait, luring Zhao troops away.
In truth, the real supplies had been loaded onto Qin's entire Yellow River flotilla, rerouting from the north. Yet Zhao blockades stalled even this plan.
Only Shou Hei Kun, far back in Qin's capital, had placed his faith in one last plan—a covert supply line through Qi, using an alternative river route. The plan worked.
Gyou was saved—barely.
Meanwhile, General Tou's army began moving west. The newly awakened A Kou, pale but resolute, had recovered from his coma and rode out with reinforcements to link with Tou.
Seeing the coordination, Ri Boku despaired. With Gyou, Ryouyou, and now Retsubi falling into Qin hands, he warned that a northern front could collapse next.
But Kaku Kai ignored him, prioritizing court politics over military strategy.
While the Gyou siege ended, Ren and the Gu Ren Tai had been stationed just south of Retsubi, holding a rural pass to ensure no Zhao remnants retook the strategic fortress.
When word of Ri Boku's retreat and arrest spread, Ren received new orders—to secure the nearby cities now left leaderless and prepare them for occupation.
Kai, standing at Ren's side, scoffed. "All this war, and we're the ones sweeping the aftermath."
Ren nodded. "That's how it works. Let the glory-hunters rest. We've got a nation to hold now."
Qin's victory was unprecedented.
Gyou, Ryouyou, and Retsubi were in Qin's hands. Major Zhao cities in the region surrendered or were easily taken. The Hi Shin Unit, Gu Ren Tai, and Gyoku Hou were granted return orders, hailed as heroes.
The Kan Ki Army, its reputation both feared and infamous, remained in the region to hold the territory—though not without scrutiny.
Tou's army remained stationed across the region as the core military government, ensuring stability and warding off any future Zhao retaliation.
In the ruins of a broken kingdom, the seeds of Qin's dream took root.
But far in the north, new storms were already gathering.